State Supreme court marks anniversary of the order to comply with ADA rules

By Stephanie

Washtenaw County Legal News

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One year ago, the Michigan Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 2015-5 to ensure continued compliance in Michigan’s trial courts with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Michigan law requirements. In conjunction with the Administrative Order, the State Court Administrative Office implemented a performance measure related to access to the courts by persons with disabilities.

“Every court in Michigan has achieved compliance with the ADA performance measure,” said State Court Administrator Milt Mack. “The door to the courthouse must be open to everyone, regardless of disability, and Michigan courts are meeting that challenge.”

Compliance with the performance measure includes:

• Adopting local administrative orders that describe the procedure to be followed for a person to request accommodations in that court.

• Designating a court employee to be the court’s ADA coordinator.

• Ensuring that the chief judge and ADA coordinator participated in training regarding the duties and obligations of a court in compliance with the ADA, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the Deaf Persons’ Interpreters Act, and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. A video about ADA requirements is available at https://mjieducation.mi.gov/videos/americans-with-disabilities-act-of-1990-ada-amendments-act-of-2008.?The Supreme Court is assisting trial courts in “driving change” by using performance measures, benchmarking, and implementing best practices to improve outcomes.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and Michigan law (including the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act) identify the responsibilities of public entities to provide access for citizens with disabilities to public programs and services, including courts.

Information about the ADA and the related performance measure is available at http:// courts.mi.gov/administration/admin/op/access/pages/americans-with-disabilities-act.aspx. For additional information about access to courts, including language access, visit http:// courts.mi.gov/administration/admin/op/access/pages/access-to-courts.aspx.